TV comic Lenny Henry has set the seal on his transition to serious actor status after being shortlisted today for a top award as best newcomer – more than 30 years into his entertainment career.

The star was nominated at the London Evening Standard Theatre Awards for his portrayal in the title role of Othello at London’s Trafalgar Studios.

Other familiar faces from film and TV to be nominated for awards – which will be handed out on Monday, November 23 include Rachel Weisz, Juliet Stevenson and Ken Stott.

The Royal Court Theatre dominates the shortlist with 11 productions or performances up for awards with its two plays Enron and Jerusalem slugging it out in several categories including best play and best director.

Henry has drawn acclaim for his role in the Shakespeare production, his first foray into straight stage-acting. At the age of 51, he finds himself competing against performers who are half his age, including one – Bel Powley, nominated for Tusk Tusk – who is only 17.

Weisz, who starred in the Donmar Warehouse production of A Streetcar Named Desire, competes in the best actress category against Stevenson, who appeared in Duet For One. Also battling for the title – now renamed in honour of the late Natasha Richardson, who died last year – are Deanna Dunagan and Penny Downie.

Stott, nominated for his role in A View From The Bridge, takes on a heavyweight cast of Simon Russell Beale, Mark Rylance and Samuel West in the fight for top honours in the best actor category.

But it is the tussle between Enron and Jerusalem – both set for West End runs in the New Year – which dominates the awards. Enron is only the second play written by 28-year-old Lucy Prebble, who scripted TV’s Secret Diary of a Call Girl, and examines the financial scandal which engulfed the company of the title. It is already lined up for a Hollywood adaptation.

Prebble will battle with Jerusalem writer Jez Butterworth – a previous Evening Standard award-winner in 1995 – for the title of best play, as well as Tracy Letts for August: Osage County and Simon Stephens for his Punk Rock.

London Evening Standard theatre critic Henry Hitchings praised the vibrancy of writing over the past year: “What is striking about new plays is how they are engaging with urgent, contemporary issues, such as climate change and the financial crisis and social inclusion and race, but still work well as drama. They’re not po-faced.”